Ok I know the size of the text is odd and everything but the computer was being weird and not accepting my file so I had to export an old one and then replace what was written there with the new chapter. Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter.
Chapter 17
Draco walked with Pansy, Greg, and Vincent towards the painting of Simon Slytherin, prepared for a good sleep. All of them were worn out, but most notably were Draco and Pansy. Those two were limping slightly and Pansy looked rather pale.
"I'm so glad classes are done for the day," muttered Pansy as the opened the portrait before climbing in.
"I can't help but agree with you Pansy," replied Draco as he began to climb in as well. "Today was way too long."
"Mhmmm," agreed Pansy as she stepped into the common room, heading for the couch. However, as she rounded a chair, something caught her eye that made her freeze. Behind her, she could hear Draco stop as well as Greg and Vincent. She didn't need to look at them to know their eyes were all on the shadow-covered figure standing against the fireplace. Brown robes covered the slim and curvy form of a woman as she leaned on the mantle of the fireplace, a fire burning before her. At the sound of their foot-steps stopping, the woman let out a chuckle and pushed away from the mantle.
"So you've returned," asked a melodic voice, soft and feminine. The figure turned towards them in a fluid and graceful way, very much reminiscent of a snake. Her face was covered with the same kind of hood which had earlier covered Pansy's head, but a pair of yellow eyes still shone out at them all. From the edges of the hood, a few pieces of what appeared to be black hair were also visible. Belt-like pieces of fabric were crossed over her chest, the colors indicating that she was of a high rank in the military guard which belonged to the Slythen-Claw clan.
Several thoughts began to race though Draco's mind as he saw her. Was she there to arrest them? Were they in trouble for appearing in their own robes? Did something happen to the heir? Were they being held responsible? Did word of the basilisk come out?
A harmonic laugh echoed from inside the hood, a laugh which immediately calmed everyone in the room for some reason. The yellow eyes were filled with humor as the fire light caught them, making it seem like they were glowing.
"Don't worry, you're not in trouble," she assured them. Her voice was startlingly familiar, but they couldn't place it at the moment. "I came to thank you in person. I felt it was only right after all."
Then, without another word, the woman swept back her hood. A few strands of dark brown hair, nearly black, fell across her yellow eyes, the rest of her hair being pinned back in some kind of a bun. The yellow eyes were set in a pale face which they all quickly recognized. No one could speak for a moment as the woman stood their smiling at them all.
Finally, Draco managed to move. He took a step towards her, his mouth slightly agape as one of his hands reached out to cup her cheek. Disbelief ran across his eyes as his thumb ran itself over her cheek. It was apparent that he couldn't quite believe that this woman stood before him. Her fingers lay over his gently as she lightly brushed them over his knuckles. Turning her head slightly, she lightly kissed the heel of his hand as if to assure him she was there. A smile graced her lips as she looked up at him.
However, by then he was no longer frozen. His arms moved quickly to warp around her waist and lift her off the ground. A gasp left her lips as he did this, her arms wrapping quickly around his shoulders. Her eyes shot away from Draco's and back towards the ground but one of Draco's hands rose to turn her face back to his. Before she could even protest, however, Draco had kissed her lightly.
Pansy and Greg were hugging happily behind their friend while Vincent looked more then a little disgusted. He had never had a girlfriend and thus didn't understand what the woman and Draco were sharing.
The kiss didn't last long of course, the woman pulling away first before whispering to Draco. "I didn't think you'd miss me that much Draco," she murmured to him while he simply continued to hold her close, though her feet were now on the ground.
"How could I not miss you," he started to whispered back, "Harmony?"
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"Voldemort is your grandfather?" shouted Harry. Ron had fainted as had McGonagall. Apparently the thought of a brilliant witch like Hermione being related to someone like Voldemort was far too much for her. TJ ignored the two fallen people in the room, focusing on Harry and Dumbledore. Both of them looked more then a little stunned but were both at least standing.
"Yes, Riddle is our grandfather," repeated TJ calmly. His elbows were propped on his knees and his chin rested on his inter-woven fingers. He seemed completely unfazed by this fact, however, and just continued to look at the two standing men. "Our mother was his daughter and it wasn't his idea for her to marry our father either, before any of you jump to that conclusion. He tried to raise her but she ran away and ended up in the Slythen-Claw clan. For years she did work as a potion's expert and healer until our father caught sight of her and fell in love. After that she had myself and my two sisters before she was placed under imperious and ordered to kill our father. When she learned about what she'd done she killed herself out of depression."
"Wait, two sisters?" asked Harry. He was trying, unsuccessfully, to wake up Ron.
TJ nodded. "Yes, two sisters. Hermione is my twin and we have one sister who's younger then us. She was born just before father was killed but we're pretty sure that Riddle doesn't know about her. She's currently hidden away to make sure he doesn't find out about her either."
"So only you and Hermione are here?" asked Harry as he gave up on Ron.
"Correct."
"Where's your sister then?" asked Dumbledore. "If you would like I could send her an invitation to Hogwarts so you can keep an eye on her."
TJ shook his head and shrugged. "To be honest I don't know where she is. Only Harmony knows where Sister is hidden and that's because she hid her."
Harry looked at him in confusion. "Is her name Sister?"
TJ shook his head again and stood up, stretching out his arms. "No, Sister is just what I call her. Same goes for Harmony. Her real name isn't to be spoken and for security purposes her name was erased from my memory."
Harry was in a state of semi-shock again. "B-but isn't that a little harsh?"
A shake of the head was TJ's response as he began to head for the door, stepping over McGonagall and Ron in the process. "Not when you're running from the people we are. There are more enemies on our back then just Voldemort so every ounce of security is necessary."
By now, TJ was at the door. He gave one last look back at Harry and Dumbledore. "Well, I hope that was helpful. Oh, and by the way, you can't tell ANYONE about this. Not even other teachers or staff members. Got it?"
Dumbledore and Harry both nodded. However, just as TJ was about to leave, Harry spoke up again. "TJ, if there's anything I can do, tell me. Hermione is my friend and though I doubt she'd ask me for help I want to help her in any way I can."
TJ smiled at Harry over his shoulder. "I'll do that. Thank you Harry, we both appreciate it."
And with that, TJ was gone, leaving Harry and Dumbledore with an unconscious McGonagall and Ron.
